Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Sarah Tolmie's Two Travelers

I'm pleased to announce the publication of Two Travelers, a pair of portal fictions by Sarah Tolmie, in both print and e-book editions. In "Dancer on the Stairs," a woman wakes up on a stone staircase in a
baroque palace, not speaking the language of the place and lacking the
chemical signature that allows people to identify each other within a
complex social hierarchy. Unable to communicate in words, she resorts to
dance. In "The Burning Furrow," a man who runs a diner in present-day
America is also a freedom-fighter in the northern, courtly realm of
Dinesen. His people are abused foreigners at home, the servants of
strangers, bound not by their overlords, but by their world itself, through
a ritual known as the burning of the furrows. Only he and his family are
free—for a time. Now that time is ending.

Advance Praise

"Two Travelers is a magical evocation of the outsider experience, a book
that transports its characters to strange new worlds, where they must make
their way despite language barriers and culture shock. Sarah Tolmie's
lyrical prose guides readers through vividly imagined cultures where the
fate of a kingdom hangs on the outcome of a dance, or where, as your
family's size changes, so too must your name."
—A.M. Dellamonia, author of A Daughter of No
Nation and The Nature of a Pirate
"Sarah Tolmie is one of the best new writers I've discovered in a long time. Her writing is a joy to read."
—Amy Thomson, author of Storyteller and The
Color of Distance

Reviews

Author and professor Tolmie (The Stone Boatmen) delivers an exquisite duo
of short stories in this slim volume.... Rich with detail, both stories are
imbued with baroque sensibilities, a refreshing deviation from the typical
medieval setting. Rather than relying on pure exposition, Tolmie uses the
characters' interactions and personalities to bring color to the unique
magic of each setting. Tolmie's investigations of identity, place, and
personal meaning are a delight to read and a great contribution to the
genre.
—Publishers Weekly, April 2016

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